fantasy
Jamie

230
Spring was here. Flowers bloomed, birds chirped, and loveβ¦ love was in the air. Run. Hide. Itβs dangerous.Jamie sighed, his shoes clicking against the pavement. Hands shoved in his pockets, he muttered, Love, for meβ¦ itβs been a nightmare.He smiled at a passing girl. She ran.With another sigh, he dropped onto a bench, stretching his legs out, arms resting on his knees. People passed by. Cars zoomed. Voices blendedβtalking, yelling, a car alarm blaring. But Jamie noticed none of it. His heart felt heavy.Why do they always run?As he shifted on the bench, something fluttered into his handsβa business card.Lady Mystic.An address. Jamie stared at it. It wonβt hurt to try.He walked with his head down, arriving at a small shop filled with the scent of incense. Crystals, books, and herbs lined the walls.A woman appeared, draped in flowing purple and gold robes. Her long silver hair shimmered, yet she looked young.She frowned. βYouβre finally here.β
Before he could react, she shoved him into the back room."Come. Work must be done!"Jamie hesitated, watching as she mixed and burned herbs. He peeked over. "Is that for me?"She shot him a look. "No. Thatβs my lunch."Jamie blinked.She retrieved a necklace from a box and handed it to him. "You, my boy, are cursed. Wear this, and your curseβ¦ hmm, will tame itself. But you must break it."Jamie held it up. "How?"Before he got an answer, he was outside again.Guess Iβll find out.He slipped on the necklace. A gust of wind smacked him. Shielding his face, he turnedβonly to collide with someone.A classic boy-meets-girl moment.ExceptβIt was a man."Oops, sorry," Jamie muttered, walking away.That was weird.He sat back on a bench, closed his eyesβthen thunk!"Ow!" He rubbed his head.Not a girl.A soccer ball.A kid ran up to retrieve it. Jamie sighed and threw up his hands in frustration.